Friday, February 1, 2019

Lady of a Thousand Treasures

GIVEAWAY
BYRD, SANDRA
LADY OF A THOUSAND TREASURES

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father's passing and her uncle's decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of longtime client Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron's legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron's only living son, Harry -- the man who broke Eleanor's heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron's motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry's future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope of a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor's prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron's collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressure mounts and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust -- who in her life is false or true, brass or gold -- and what is meant to be treasured.

My Review:

"Sometimes starting anew is the best way to move forward. Even if it seems like you've lost."

Wow -- I'm gobsmacked! Don't even know where to begin. There's just so many layers to this story and it's so cleverly laid out. Subtle subtext that say one thing but mask a deeper meaning if one has a care to listen carefully. And Miss Eleanor Sheffield is an expert at delivering such charming conversation. There's this incredible scene at a house party over board games (yes -- board games -- who knew the Victorians even had those?! Oh, but they did -- and very moral and upright they were too!) Anyway, that whole scene is so cunning -- I read it twice to make sure I got every delicious nuance.

I love Sandra Byrd's writing style -- the way her words flow around in my head and lure me deeper into the story. So beautiful that I was tempted to read out loud but I couldn't bear to slow the pace despite wanting to savor it all. A lovely reader conundrum for sure!

Lady of a Thousand Treasures reads like a period classic -- a bit Gothic (which I love) along with a web of treachery and deceit set the stage for an engrossing read. And the historical details! Fascinating and enlightening and some aspects are so unusual. Like the popularity of collecting antiquities and the thrill of treasure seeking.

Eleanor is at the center of it all -- a woman trained in a man's profession facing prejudice because of her gender. Not to mention the moral dilemma she faces -- in essence having to determine whether her former suitor is worthy of keeping his father's legendary collection. And then there's her uncle's failing health and the perilous state of the family business. Not to mention a broken heart and the foolish hope that her love isn't completely lost after all. Shivers of delightful torment shoot up my spine at all the sweet memories. I'll definitely require a mourning period before I move on to my next read.

Sandra Byrd is a master wordsmith and she's outdone herself in the first book of her Victorian Ladies series.

"I had learned that every circumstance in life doesn't have to end happily for the Lord to provide a happy ending."

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lady of a Thousand Treasures, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and .in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

32 comments:

  1. I've heard of her but have not read any of her books yet 📚
    Thanks for sharing her book with us 😍❤😍 Thanks for the chance to win a copy 😃💖😍💗
    iamabho AT gmail DOT com

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  2. I've been wanting to read this one! Sandra Byrd is one of my must read authors! KAV, thank you for the great review and opportunity to win a copy.
    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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    1. Definitely a must-read author. Good luck, Caryl!

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  3. Beautiful review, I have this one on my kindle,
    must move to the top of the queue!
    That last line says it all!

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    1. Thanks, Tracey. Yes, you must move it up on the queue!

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  4. I felt so blessed to have been on Sandra's influencer team for this novel! Not only is she a "master wordsmith" as you said, Kav, but such a delightful & gracious lady as well. For being on her team, she sent me a bookmark ribbon with an old-fashioned key (which is of great significance in the story) on one end and a gem on the other. My birthstone. Sandra said the colors sent to each person were randomly chosen, so it seemed like a God thing to us all! Your review is so amazing there are no adjectives to describe it. SO beautifully written!

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    1. Ah, thanks, Diana! What a sweet keepsake! And so appropriate for the book! I'm still in a mummified state after reading this one.

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    2. Yes, it's in my Bible. After reading a book like that it's hard for me to move on to another right away. But somehow I manage. ;-)

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  5. I love that there's a gothic feel to this story.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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  6. Some books require a few days of mourning before a reader can move on...this was the same for me too Kav. I love Sandra's writing and always devour and savor whatever story she comes up with!

    For me, I LOVED the references to centuries old glass pieces. So much so, that I had to look online to see what they might have looked like....wow!! Priceless and beautiful. :-)

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    1. Don't you just love it when a book urges you on to do your own research?! Definitely that kind of book.

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  7. Have not read much in this era. teshawATsbcglobalDOTnet

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    1. A fascinating time and this author is faithful in her research. Good luck, Tammie.

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  8. I love her books. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  9. I've been hearing such wonderful things about this story, I'm looking forward to reading it. You're review of it only makes me move it up on my list!

    dmandres5 at gmail dot com

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    1. Everything you've been hearing is true!!! You must read this book, Melissa. Good luck!

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  10. I wholeheartedly agree with you my book TWIN SISTER. It was a blessing to read this one.

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  11. This would be the perfect introduction! Good luck, Kate!

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  12. Thank you for your wonderful review of Lady of a Thousand Treasures. Sandra Byrd is a must buy author for me and this book is waiting to be read. Definitely next!

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    1. So excited that you will get to rest under its spell soon! Enjoy!

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  13. I haven't read any of her books. Looks like a good one to start with!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. The perfect place to start. Good luck, rubynreba!

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  14. I haven't read a Sandra Byrd book yet either. Include me, please, Kav!

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  15. I've never read any of Sandra Byrd's books, would love to though. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ladysnowangelphotos(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. I've really enjoyed Sandra Byrd's work and am eager to read this one.
    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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